What Hurts the Most

What If I'm Not?

Aaron's P.O.V
"Alright man , see you later" I shout while leaving Derek's room. Apparently his crazy, curly-haired girlfriend is coming over in a few,and I don't want to encounter the fury that is Helena or whatever her name is. My Nike sneakers thread heavily against the carpet of the house and before I leave I make sure to get an apple from the fridge. I'm just about to start up my bike when I see four missed calls on my phone from the hospital where my sister is. Automatically, I panic and without thinking I press the green button to call back the number. After about four rings a lady picks up.

"Good afternoon, you've reached the pediatric ward of the Saint Adams Memorial hospital."
"Uhh, is Ariana there?" I question hopefully.
"Is this Aaron? If you are, I don't  know who you are exactly, but Ariana has been pacing up and down the hall hoping you haven't forgot, whatever you're not supposed to forget, so I hope you haven't." She says in a kind of hushed toned. What?
"I'm sorry, what?" I inquire.
"Ariana, the phone is for you." I here the lady semi shout over the receiver. The next voice I hear is that of Ariana.
"Hey, Aaron what time are you coming to get me tomorrow?"she squeaks cheerily.
"Tomorrow? You get to go home tomorrow?" I say enthusiastically.
"Yeah, how else are we kids going to get ready for the ball."
"The ball?"
"Aaron, you promised me you wouldn't forget, that means you haven't gotten me a dress either. Oh come on man." She says, disappointment evident in her voice. Oh crap!! I totally forgot. I'm such a douchebag.
"Would you relax? I'm kidding. I'm actually on my way to get your dress now." I lie through my teeth.
"Right." She drags the word out knowing full well that I lied. " Since you remember so well what time are you supposed to come and get me?"
"Five thir-"
" Four o'clock" she says sternly interrupting me mid guess. I swear sometimes you'd think that she's the eighteen year old.
"Okay, fine fine. I'll be there then, now get off the phone so I can go find you a nice dress." I say trying to wrap up the conversation.
"Bye Aaron" she huffs, her annoyance is evident, even over the phone.
"Bye, princess" I coo just to annoy her.
"This princess is gonna turn into a damn dragon if you don't bring me my damn dress."
"Woah woah woah, language. Is someone on their period-" And with that the line goes dead. Typical. Now where the heck am I going to find a dress suitable for 15 year old? Better question. How much money do I have, to buy a suitable dress for my 15 year old sister who is going to her first big ball or whatever? Last time I checked my wallet, I had a total of $15 to my name. Ugh why am I such a screw up? I need help. I can't believe I'm about to hop on my motorcycle and head over to her house.

By time I pull into Kimberly's driveway I'm soaking wet. A torrent of rain came down out of nowhere. I park my bike in the driveway and run up to the front door and because of the down pour going on around me, I ring the doorbell a little too harshly. Miss Rodriguez opens the door and her expression screams shock when she takes in my appearance.
"Aaron, oh my goodness, come in" her Hispanic accent is strangely soothing but the way I can sense she's pitying me kind of makes me uneasy. She tries offering me a towel, but I refuse.
"Is Kimberly home?" I question, with a hint of panic obvious in my tone.
"Yes, she and Jeremy are in her room, are you sure you don't need  a tow-"
" Thanks, love you" and I take the stairs two at a time, that's until I realize what I just said. I stop in my tracks and turn around to meet Miss Rodriguez grinning at me. " I didn't mean to say -" I begin.
" It's okay" she chuckles before continuing her sentence. "Just remember to knock before you enter, trust me." With a toothy grin she turns around and goes back to doing whatever she was doing before I came. Somehow I know she's referring to the time she caught Kimberly sitting on my lap that day we were studying. I hope she doesn't think Kimberly and I have some kind of relationship or something.
"Aaron focus" I tell myself and I begin running up the stairs taking two at a time. When I get to her door I knock. I hear her shout for me to come in and when I open the door her eyes go wide. Probably because I caught her sitting in that Jeremy dude's lap. Heck, me being here period, is probably causing her to gape at me like I'm a madman. That and the fact that I'm soaking wet.
Standing to her feet, she begins walking over to me, almost as if she doesn't believe I'm real and then she parts her lips "Aaron?"
I take that as my queue to fully explain myself. After asking her to come into the hallway and after about three minutes of me babbling on and on. She agrees to help. Honestly it was a lot easier than I thought. Once she heard it was for my little sister she practically begged to help. Maybe that is an exaggeration but she really was eager to help me. So tomorrow before I go pick up Ariana I have to come back here and choose a dress from her collection or something something like that.
       "Aaron why don't you guys just come here and get ready?" She asks surprising me. " I mean does your sister have someone to do her hair and makeup, you know girly stuff? You didn't think about that, did you? I promise you, your sister will thank you. Plus Jeremy and I are going to be there as well. Just pick her up and then come over here with your suit and what not."
    " What suit?" I inquire.
    " You can't wear jeans to the ball." She states obviously.
    " I'm not going, am I supposed to go?" I really hope not."
" She's probably going to hate you if you don't." She chuckles and her smile almost makes me want to smile. This is the longest we've talked about something that does not involve the reproductive system.
"But I don't have a suit though ." I don't know when last I've seen a suit, and Santa knows I can't afford to buy one. I watch Kimberly and it's almost as if she's measuring my body in her mind or something.
     " It's okay, I think I can find you something decent to wear "
      " Honestly, thank you so much, I really regret being so mean to you now" I state while scratching the back of my neck uncomfortably.
      "It's okay, let's just say I understand what it feels like to be in your position, it's just that I didn't take out my pain on others." Her voice, the way it's so gentle and soft, makes me feel so small but yet it tells me that she's forgiven me. A small smile plays on her lips before she opens her mouth. " Come on let me walk you to the door" she insists.
      I follow her down the staircase and when she opens the door for me to leave, Helena barges in. She doesn't even acknowledge me. She gives Miss Rodriguez a hug and Kimberly  tells her to go upstairs and keep Jeremy company. When I walk over the threshold to leave, something stops me and I turn to face Kimberly. Her eyes watch me intently as I open my mouth to speak.
      "What are you doing this Sunday?" I ask.
       " Nothing, why? You trying to take me on a date?" She jokes
       "Actually , yeah." I flush.
       "You're kidding, right? " she chuckles a nervous chuckle and her eyes watch me intently, trying to decipher if I'm being serious.
       " What if I'm not?"